'''Aurora''' is the second-largest city in the [[United States of America|U.S.]] state of [[Illinois]], located about 35 miles west of [[Chicago]]. It's at the very edge of [[Chicagoland]] and, situated on the Fox River, has many opportunities for urban, suburban, and rural recreation. Often overlooked, Aurora in fact has many surprisingly interesting attractions and a downtown unlike that of a typical suburb. It is probably best known for being the setting of the "Wayne's World" movies.

==Get in==

==Get in==

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By car: Aurora is just off the East-West Tollway (I-88) in Illinois. Take the Route 31 exit south.

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===By car===

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Aurora is just off the East-West Tollway (I-88) in Illinois. Take the Route 31 exit south for downtown and most other things, and take the Farnsworth exit south for Phillips Park Zoo, Aurora Transportation Center, and Walter Payton's Roundhouse.

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By train: Aurora is part of Chicago's Metra commuter rail system, the last stop on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line which leaves from Union Station in the Loop.

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===By train===

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Aurora is part of Chicago's Metra commuter rail system, the last stop on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line which leaves from Union Station in the Loop.

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By bus: Greyhound makes a stop at the Aurora train station on its Chicago-Des Moines-Omaha route, but the express buses will not stop there. Also, the Aurora train station is a local hub for PACE, the Chicagoland suburban bus service.

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===By bus===

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The Aurora train station is a local hub for PACE, the Chicagoland suburban bus service.

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By air: Aurora has a small municipal airport of its own, but the best way to go is to fly into one of the Chicago airports ([[O'Hare International Airport|O'Hare]] or [[Chicago/Midway Area|Midway]]) and just take the train or a taxi to Aurora.

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===By plane===

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Aurora has a small municipal airport of its own, but the best way to go is to fly into one of the Chicago airports ([[O'Hare International Airport|O'Hare]] or [[Chicago/Southwest Side#By plane|Midway]]) and just take the train or a taxi to Aurora.

==Get around==

==Get around==

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As is commonplace in the suburbs, the easiest way to get around is by car. However, PACE Bus also has extensive service in Aurora (it being Illinois's second largest city, after all), and multiple routes connect the Aurora Transportation Center with the rest of the city as well as [[Elgin (Illinois)|Elgin]], Geneva, St. Charles, Batavia, and [[Naperville]].

==See==

==See==

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[[Image:Sunkengarden.JPG|thumb|The Sunken Garden in Phillips Park]]

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[[Image:GARHall.JPG|thumb|The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall]]

*<see name="Blackberry Farm" alt="" address="100 S. Barnes Rd." directions="" phone="" url="http://www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/?q=node/2" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">A living history museum of 19th century life spread out over 54 acres with a lake, ponds, a stream, and an arboretum.</see>

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(630) 892-1572

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www.auroraregionalfiremuseum.org

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Batavia Depot Museum <br>

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*<see name="David L. Pierce Art &amp; History Center" alt="" address="20 E. Downer" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.aurorahistoricalsociety.org/museums.html" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">The Aurora Public Art Commission hosts eight to 10 rotating exhibits displaying a full spectrum of innovative arts. The History Center has a collection of photographs, books, maps and other memorabilia. There is also a gift shop.</see>

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(630) 406-5274

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www.bataviahistoricalsociety.org

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Batavia Riverwalk<br>

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*<see name="The Grand Army of the Republic Hall" alt="" address="23 E. Downer Place" directions="" phone="" url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Army_of_the_Republic_Hall_(Aurora,_Illinois)" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Built as a monument to Aurora's Civil War veterans in 1878, it's now a small structure next to the library that sticks out in its antiquity.</see>

*<see name="The Walter Payton Museum" alt="" address="18 W. Benton St." directions="" phone="" url="http://scitech.mus.il.us/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">An exhibit of Payton's entire life, from his football career (high school to pro, including his Super Bowl XX ring) to his auto racing and music interests.</see>

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(630) 840-3351

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www.fnal.gov

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The Grand Army Of The Republic Hall <br>

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*<see name="William Tanner House" alt="" address="Corner of Oak & Cedar" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.aurorahistoricalsociety.org/museums.html" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Built in 1857, this Italianate-style house was the home to prominent merchant William Tanner and his family. The house features high ceilings, oak grained woodwork, ornate plaster decoration, and antique furnishings.</see>

*'''Hollywood Casino''' is a decent gambling experience on the Fox River downtown. Offers table games such as blackjack, craps, and roulette, as well as a variety of slot machines. Friendly staff and an expensive buffet.

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*'''An iPod Tour''' downtown is a unique way to get acquainted with the brown stone architecture. Tour brochures are available at the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

*<eat name="Jake's Bagels and Deli" alt="" address="220 N. Broadway" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Bagels are their specialty, with at least one unique flavor always available with the rest of the regulars. Their coffees (they have Green Mountain) and sandwiches also shine.</eat>

*<do name="Aurora University" alt="" address="347 S. Gladstone Ave." directions="" phone="" url="http://www.aurora.edu/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">A private 4-year university with its main campus in Aurora, Illinois and the George Williams campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Approximately 4000 students have a wide range of majors to choose from. The campus is also the home of the Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures.</do>

*[http://ci-aurora.chidirect.com Comfort Inn Aurora O'Hare Airport Hotel] 4005 Gabrielle Lane. 630 820 3400. 25 miles from O'Hare International Airport, lies the 2002 Silver Hospitality Award winning hotel, the Comfort Inn Aurora Hotel of Fox Valley. Whether you are a tourist, business traveller or just a passer by, you would do well to take advantage of the offerings of the Comfort Inn Aurora Hotel.

Revision as of 00:53, 20 January 2013

The Paramount Theater and Leland Tower downtown

Aurora is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois, located about 35 miles west of Chicago. It's at the very edge of Chicagoland and, situated on the Fox River, has many opportunities for urban, suburban, and rural recreation. Often overlooked, Aurora in fact has many surprisingly interesting attractions and a downtown unlike that of a typical suburb. It is probably best known for being the setting of the "Wayne's World" movies.

Contents

Get in

By car

Aurora is just off the East-West Tollway (I-88) in Illinois. Take the Route 31 exit south for downtown and most other things, and take the Farnsworth exit south for Phillips Park Zoo, Aurora Transportation Center, and Walter Payton's Roundhouse.

By train

Aurora is part of Chicago's Metra commuter rail system, the last stop on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line which leaves from Union Station in the Loop.

By bus

The Aurora train station is a local hub for PACE, the Chicagoland suburban bus service.

By plane

Aurora has a small municipal airport of its own, but the best way to go is to fly into one of the Chicago airports (O'Hare or Midway) and just take the train or a taxi to Aurora.

Get around

As is commonplace in the suburbs, the easiest way to get around is by car. However, PACE Bus also has extensive service in Aurora (it being Illinois's second largest city, after all), and multiple routes connect the Aurora Transportation Center with the rest of the city as well as Elgin, Geneva, St. Charles, Batavia, and Naperville.

Aurora Regional Fire Museum, Corner of New York & Broadway, [2]. A collection of unique firefighting memorabilia set in Aurora's old Central Fire Station, built in 1894.

Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Rd., [3]. A living history museum of 19th century life spread out over 54 acres with a lake, ponds, a stream, and an arboretum.

David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E. Downer, [4]. The Aurora Public Art Commission hosts eight to 10 rotating exhibits displaying a full spectrum of innovative arts. The History Center has a collection of photographs, books, maps and other memorabilia. There is also a gift shop.

The Grand Army of the Republic Hall, 23 E. Downer Place, [5]. Built as a monument to Aurora's Civil War veterans in 1878, it's now a small structure next to the library that sticks out in its antiquity.

The Walter Payton Museum, 18 W. Benton St., [11]. An exhibit of Payton's entire life, from his football career (high school to pro, including his Super Bowl XX ring) to his auto racing and music interests.

William Tanner House, Corner of Oak & Cedar, [12]. Built in 1857, this Italianate-style house was the home to prominent merchant William Tanner and his family. The house features high ceilings, oak grained woodwork, ornate plaster decoration, and antique furnishings.

Do

The Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple of Greater Chicago

Hollywood Casino is a decent gambling experience on the Fox River downtown. Offers table games such as blackjack, craps, and roulette, as well as a variety of slot machines. Friendly staff and an expensive buffet.

An iPod Tour downtown is a unique way to get acquainted with the brown stone architecture. Tour brochures are available at the Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Westfield Fox Valley Mall, at the eastern edge of Aurora, is one of the larger indoor malls.

David L. Pierce Art & History Center Museum Store is small but has many unique items related to Aurora and crafts, jewelry, and art made by local Aurorans.

Eat

Goody's, 1250 N. Farnsworth. This all-American restaurant has a seemingly endless supply of food, and for dirt cheap. Get Chicago-style hot dogs, Po Boy Sandwiches, fish fillets, pizza, Italian Beef; you name it, they probably have it

Jake's Bagels and Deli, 220 N. Broadway. Bagels are their specialty, with at least one unique flavor always available with the rest of the regulars. Their coffees (they have Green Mountain) and sandwiches also shine.

America's Brew Pub, 205 N. Broadway, [13]. at Walter Payton's Roundhouse, is an international award-winning brewery with good American regional cuisine and pub food.

Learn

Aurora University, 347 S. Gladstone Ave., [15]. A private 4-year university with its main campus in Aurora, Illinois and the George Williams campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. Approximately 4000 students have a wide range of majors to choose from. The campus is also the home of the Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures.